Changes

The man picked her up and carried her into the center of what turned out to be a small town with a thriving industrial district. The inhabitants of that town were all famous businessmen that she knew about—famous for quitting and vanishing from their businesses. One of them was Midas Mulligan, who dumbfounded her by calling her "the first [[scab]]."

The man picked her up and carried her into the center of what turned out to be a small town with a thriving industrial district. The inhabitants of that town were all famous businessmen that she knew about—famous for quitting and vanishing from their businesses. One of them was Midas Mulligan, who dumbfounded her by calling her "the first [[scab]]."

John Galt then explained what had happened to her aircraft, and why such a green valley had looked rocky until her descent. The valley floor was at an elevation of 8000 feet. At 8700 feet, John Galt had installed "refractor ray" projectors to create a one-way mirror in the air. Dagny had descended to that level, a result that John Galt had never predicted, and the rays had shorted out her motor.

John Galt then explained what had happened to her aircraft, and why such a green valley had looked rocky until her descent. The valley floor was at an elevation of 8000 feet. At 8700 feet, John Galt had installed "refractor ray" projectors to project the false image of an actual rock tumble three miles away. Dagny had descended to that level, a result that John Galt had never predicted, and the rays had shorted out her motor.

Dagny spent the night alone in a room in what turned out to be John Galt's house. She noticed that the walls of the room were richly inscribed with cryptic messages, and signed by more of the vanished ones. Later that night she received a visit from Francisco d'Anconia.

Dagny spent the night alone in a room in what turned out to be John Galt's house. She noticed that the walls of the room were richly inscribed with cryptic messages, and signed by more of the vanished ones.

In the morning, she received an even stranger visit: from Ragnar Danneskjold. Mr. Danneskjold took this opportunity to explain what his [[privateer]]ing activities were all about: he was seizing government "global relief" cargoes and selling them to smugglers, and bringing the [[gold]] they paid him back to this secluded valley. He deposited this gold in the bank that Midas Mulligan had re-established in the valley, which he actually owned. (This is why John Galt called the place Mulligan's Valley, though the others called it [[Galt's Gulch]].) Ragnar went on to explain that he intended to refund the income-tax payments of the vanished ones and of a few people, including Dagny and Henry Rearden, who had not yet quit. But Dagny's refund would be less than that of the others, because Ragnar could not refund to her the taxes paid on the dividend from the stock of Taggart Transcontinental, since her brother had run the company in an unwholesome alliance with the government. She therefore would expect a reimbursement of the taxes on her salary as Operating Vice-President.

 

 

In the morning, she received a very strange visit: from Ragnar Danneskjold. Mr. Danneskjold took this opportunity to explain what his [[privateer]]ing activities were all about: he was seizing government "global relief" cargoes and selling them to smugglers, and bringing the [[gold]] they paid him back to this secluded valley. He deposited this gold in the bank that Midas Mulligan had re-established in the valley, which he actually owned. (This is why John Galt called the place Mulligan's Valley, though the others called it [[Galt's Gulch]].) Ragnar went on to explain that he intended to refund the income-tax payments of the vanished ones and of a few people, including Dagny and Henry Rearden, who had not yet quit. But Dagny's refund would be less than that of the others, because Ragnar could not refund to her the taxes paid on the dividend from the stock of Taggart Transcontinental, since her brother had run the company in an unwholesome alliance with the government. She therefore would expect a reimbursement only of the taxes on her salary as Operating Vice-President.

Ragnar went on to describe a meeting he had had with Henry Rearden, but John Galt stopped him before he could finish describing it.

Ragnar went on to describe a meeting he had had with Henry Rearden, but John Galt stopped him before he could finish describing it.

Dagny furiously declared, when Ragnar had left the house, that she would never accept money taken, as she saw it, through brigandage. John Galt said that he would draw on her account to pay for her room and board, and then Dagny offered to work for her room and board as his cook and housemaid. For a reason that she would not fully appreciate until much later, that proposal struck John Galt as uproariously funny. Nevertheless, he accepted it.

Dagny furiously declared, when Ragnar had left the house, that she would never accept money taken, as she saw it, at the risk of another man's life. John Galt said that he would draw on her account to pay for her room and board, and then Dagny offered to work for her room and board as his cook and housemaid. For a reason that she would not fully appreciate until much later, that proposal struck John Galt as uproariously funny. Nevertheless, he accepted it.

Later, Dagny attended a meeting with all the leading citizens of the little community. Each of them told of something new that he or she had invented, but also that they would not be sharing it with the outside. Dagny asked them what they were all doing, and finally John Galt explained:{{cquote|We are on strike.}}

That night, Francisco d'Anconia, whom Galt and Danneskjold had both missed, finally made his appearance. Galt allowed Francisco a tearful reunion with Dagny, at which time Francisco revealed that he had been searching for the wreckage of her plane since the airport attendant had reported her long overdue.

 

John Galt then confirmed that he had been the inventor of the static-electricity motor, and he had called the great strike after the Starnes heirs had put in place a business plan modeled after [[The Communist Manifesto]], which he could never accept. He and the others gave Dagny a brief history of the valley and of their own reasons for joining the strike.

== Galt's Gulch ==

== Galt's Gulch ==